Gresford 34th Festival of Textile Crafts

This week, I part made two of these simple bags. So easy to do as they are merely strips sewn together into a straight panel then folded to create this bag. I will post instructions as soon as I have finished the handles.

I saw one displayed at the patchwork and quilting show I attended in Germany, in May, but there were no instructions so I did my usual and improvised to make this similar one below. 

It's shown here showing the fold and before the panel is stitched together or the handles attached. 

I finished my windmill bag and I love using it. I added huge eyelets and knotted the handles through them but I discretely added a few safety stitches to secure the knots.

I had a super day on Thursday at 

the Festival of Textile Crafts 

in Gresford Village, North Wales.

I bought a stash of super fabric, on sale in the Memorial Hall at bargain prices.....

We enjoyed delicious fish and chips in the sunshine....

Later we managed tea and home made cakes (don't count those the calories) in the old school house...

Such an amazing amount of beautiful crafts to view. 

Patchwork and quilting, embroidery, beadwork, weaving, knitting and crochet amongst other skills. 

This, following, is merely a small cross section but still lots of pics from me!

 Exquisite beading...

 The main displays were in the wonderful old church and the stained glass windows provided a perfect back cloth to all the quilts.

 Close up of the beaded lantern hanging in the previous picture.

 These tiny beaded boxes were only a couple of inches in diameter.

 The hundreds of hexagons for this huge Granny's Garden quilt were made as a group project to raise funds for charity.

 Dozens of quilts of different styles...

 Here's just a part of the "Big Knit" display of over 1,000 tiny knitted hats which will raise funds for Age Concern when they are sold in supermarkets on top of Innocent Smoothie bottles.  

We sat beside the duck pond for a while before we took the bus and train home and we had to hold up the traffic to allow this brood to cross safely.

 A super crafty day was really enjoyed by my quilting group. 

This was my first visit but the other members have attended for several years and say that it is amazing how much excellent work is produced each year.

Last year the exhibition raised a staggering £6244.60 and most of it was donated to several charities.

If you are close enough to get there, be sure to attend next year when it will be held from Tues 16th to Fri 19th June 2015